Lawyer as soon as on Individuals’s bachelor checklist charged with rape

A Boston protection legal professional as soon as named as one in every of Individuals journal’s most eligible bachelors has been charged with raping two girls, prosecutors stated.

Gary Zerola, 49, who appeared within the journal’s 2001 checklist of “America’s High 50 Bachelors” alongside the likes of actors Ben Affleck, Matt Damon and Benicio del Toro, was arraigned on Jan. 15 on expenses of rape and breaking and getting into with felony intent, Suffolk County District Lawyer Rachael Rollins stated.

Prosecutors stated Zerola, who was already out on bail on earlier rape allegations, met a lady at a gathering on Jan. 11 and later accompanied her and a mutual acquaintance to her Boston residence.

Zerola then allegedly returned to the girl’s residence, the place she awoke to the legal professional sexually assaulting her early on Jan. 12, prosecutors stated.

He was ordered to stay in custody throughout a dangerousness listening to Thursday, the Boston Globe reported.

Rollins stated the accusations towards Zerola — who beforehand labored as an assistant district legal professional in Essex County for one 12 months and Suffolk County for 2 months in 2000 — have been “deeply troubling” and famous the incident allegedly occurred as he confronted earlier rape allegations.

Zerola had been free on $10,000 bail for allegedly raping one other lady in 2016. He has pleaded not responsible within the Suffolk County Superior Court docket case, the Globe reported.

Prosecutors stated two extra girls have since claimed Zerola additionally raped them within the Nineteen Nineties and he’s been acquitted in separate rape and tried rape circumstances in Massachusetts. A previous intercourse assault case towards him was additionally dropped in Florida, the Globe reported.

“The courtroom agreed with our place that Mr. Zerola is a hazard to the group,” Rollins stated in an announcement. “He has a historical past of rape allegations courting again to 1996.”

A not responsible plea was entered on Zerola’s behalf throughout his arraignment final week. His legal professional declined to remark Thursday, the Globe reported.

In 2001, Zerola, then 29, was featured in Individuals journal as a lawyer and foster care advocate who arrange his personal legislation follow following almost two years as a Massachusetts prosecutor. He famous his difficult childhood in an interview, saying he lived in additional than 12 foster houses from age 3 by means of 15.

“Statistically talking, I ought to be in debt or in jail due to the upbringing I had,” Zerola informed Individuals.